After muzzleloader season closes in December, many hunters put their firearms away and wait for the fall. But, there is a third season for some of us and the ranks taking part are growing. It’s called shed hunting.

Members of the deer family in the Northern Hemisphere shed their antlers during the winter. Generally this occurs from January through March. A deer’s nutrition, weather and habitat all are influencing factors as to when it occurs.

Many of the sheds are consumed by other animals of the forest such as squirrels, rabbits and porcupines. The minerals that are left in the antler are an attractant to rodents and they gnaw on them. It’s one of nature’s ways of providing for its own, a type of natural recycling.

- Where do you find them?: There is no hard and fast rule to that question, but there are some areas that are better than others. First of all try to think like a deer. Where would you be during the winter? Depending on the snowfall, deer orient to food, cover and water, although they will eat snow for water intake. Places such as staging areas, bedding cover and crop fields are great places to look. Funnel areas that concentrate deer movement are another great area, along with fence lines and hedgerows. Creek crossings can also be another hot spot.

A word of caution. In the late winter deer can be stressed from low temperatures and lack of food. Be careful not to go into a bedding area where you may bump them out. Pushing them out of such an area only stresses them further.
What equipment do I need?: Aside from dressing for conditions and a good pair of boots, really not too much is needed. A hiking staff or an old ski pole is also great to take along so that you can move grass and weeds that are matted down from the snow pack. A good pair of binoculars can also be helpful to look up and down hedgerows,or down in a gully.

Don’t expect them to just jump right out at you. Try to look for something that doesn’t fit, or even look for a glint of light off an antler on a sunny day.
Health benefits: Winter time tends to make many of us lazy and hunker down as we wait for spring. Grab your spouse or significant other, or your children, and get out there! It’s a great way to connect with nature and each other.

Pre-season scouting: What better way to scout your hunting area? This time of year is also a great way to discover what deer made it through the winter by their signs and from any sheds you find. It’s also a pretty good way to scout where turkeys may be roosting and feeding for the spring turkey hunting season coming up.

In some Western states, shed hunting has become big business with some individuals selling them to be made into lamps, tables, etc. Personally I don’t believe in that. It’s just fun to get out into the woods.